Cordoba is considered the historical capital of Spain. The area was an established commercial center for the ancient Spanish Jews, the Pagan Romans, and the Catholic Visigoths. When the Muslims conquered al-Andaluz in 711, they took made Cordoba their capital city, and built a grand Mosque to show the supreme power of God and the expanding religion. What can I say about this mosque...it was unlike anything I've ever seen. It didn't have the height of a Gothic European cathedral, but its size was pretty incredible. It was filled with high post-Roman arches and all the walls were inscripted with tiny detailed Arabic poetry, much of which was torn down during the Spanish inquisition. In the center of the mosque there is a small cathedral actually built within the building. There is one part where they had dug out a hole in the center of the floor in which you can see about 10 feet down ancient roman tiling about 2000 years old followed by Visigothic pillars 1500 years old followed by the ground beneath your feet 1200 years old surrounding the Catholic cathedral 500 years old-- literally sandwiched civilizations. I was falling in love all over the place.
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